Automatic razor edging machine



May 21, 1935- A. J. HOLMAN AUTOMATIC RAZOR EDGINCT MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV 4, 1929 May 21, 1935. A. .J. HOLMAN 2,001,727

AUTOMATIC RAZOR EDGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 2 (gag/1- M y 1935- A. J. HOLMAN AUTOMATIC RAZOR EDGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1929 3 SheetsSneet 3 Patented May 21, 1 935 UNITED STATE AUTOMATIC RAZOR EDGING MACHINE f Arthur J. Holman, Brookline, Mass. Application November 4, 1929, Serial No. 404,713

16 Claims. 1

My invention relates particularly 110a device for sharpening the edges of double-edge wafer razor blades and. ithas been the special object of 'my invention to provide a device wherein the 5 separate blades may be' fed continuously and automatically toward and into operative contact with abrading members along a straight and uninterrupted path, thereby permitting the use of several abrasive surfaces. of progressively finer grain, along the path so as to eliminate the individual handling of the separate blades here- 9 upon which mounted the forked bracket tofore found necessary to apply the blades-successively to different machines for grinding, hon-' ing and stropping, or to the same machine to treat successively both edges. It has also been the object of my invention to so organize and construct my device that the full advantage of the fundamentally 'basic principles of abrading, disclosed in my copending patent 'applica-' 20 tion, Serial No. 342,387, filed February 25, 1929, may be utilized in association with a continuous non-periodic blade feeding mechanism, thus extending the practical application of these principles to the commercial manufacture of razor blades. I have sought to accomplish this result by a device which shall be efficient, simple,

compact and economical to operate.

My device may be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a front view of my device. r Fig. 2 is a plan view of my device somewhat enlarged in scale as compared with Fig; 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of an'abrading roller showing the rectangular drive shaft used when the roller is employed in the lower position and the attached gear for operating an associated roller. 2 l

Fig. 4 is an end view of the roller shown in Fig. 3 displaying the means for assemblingthe roller andattaching the abrading material.

Fig. 5 is an end view of a lower roller drive gear and shaft.

Fig. 6 is a side view shown in Fig. 5.

of the gear and shaft Fig. 7 is an enlarged end view of my device" belt'with a razor bladeyindicated by broken lines, mounted thereon.

Referring now'more specifically to the drawings, upon which like reference numbers indicate like parts,-l is-a base (Fig. 1) the top of which is covered by a bed plate 2 attached thereto by means of the screws 3 (Fig. 2). The base I is provided with a boss 4 to which is attached by means of the screws 5 the forked bracket 6 in the ends of which is journaledthe shaft 1 of the pulley 8. The base I is also provided with bosses.

on the pulleys 8 and I3. A rod l5 screwed into boss IS on the upright forked arm II has attached to its free end one end of the coil spring H, the other end of which is attached to a post IB screwed into the bed-plate 2. 3

The tension of the spring l1 tends to elevate the rod l5 and rock outwardly the upright forked arm I I bearing the pulley I3, thereby maintaining suitable tension onthe feed belt l4. This'feed belt I4 is provided on each side with integral annular bosses 19 (Figs. 8, 9 and 10) the sides of which are slightly flattened to conform to the shape of the end perforations of a standard double edge wafer razor blade. Thus a razor blade may be supported and retained on the outer surface of the feed belt M by the bosses IS on that surface while the bosses IS on the under surface fit into suitable pockets 2| in the'faces of pulleys 8 and I3. To provide and maintain the proper alignment of the feed belt I4 and the blades 20 thereon during the period of contact of the blades with the-abrading means later to be described, I have provided a pair of associated guide plates 22 and 23 (Figs. 2 and 7) which are held together by screws 24' and attached by screws 25 to a'sup- 'pair of guide plates whereas the opposite edge of the blade projects beyond the other pair of guide plates. The associated faces of the guide plates 22 and 23 and 28 and 29 are so shaped as to provide suitable clearance for the feed belt i4 and the annular bosses i3 thereon and the blades 29 (see Fig. '7.) This clearance is greatly increased along the path of the edge of the blade which is not being operated upon so as to avoid any damage to an edge of the blade, and a very slight clearance is provided for the sides of the bosses it.

A bracket 33 is attached by screws 33a to the top of bed-plate 2. .This bracket 33 is provided with guideways 33' and 33" which fit respectively into v grooves in" projections 34 and 35 on the sliding carriage 36. A bracket 3'! similar to bracket 33 is mounted on the side of the machine opposite to that on which the bracket 33. is mounted by. means of screws 38 entering the bedplate 2. The bracket 37 carries the'sliding car'- riage 38 which is provided. with ;V; groovesin projections ii? and 4| into which fit respectively the guideways 32 and 43 on the bracket 31;

Within each of the-sliding carriages 36 and 39 is mounted a pair of abrading rollers comprising upper rcllers i i and lower rollers @5. A; typical abrading roller is illustrated in Figs. 3 and.4 Each roller comprises an eccentric hub Mi havingoffset lugs 47 to which-is attached bymeans of. screws 48 a frame 43 for supporting the abrading materials 5i], El and 52 of progressively varying grain The frame iii is provided with a. curved surface '53 centered on an axis which is preferably slightly displaced from the axis of rotation of the -roller. In Fig, 4 the axis of rotation is indicated byv the intersection of the broken lines 0La and bb, whereas the axis of thecurvefd surface 53is, indicated by the intersection of the broken line aa with the solid line cc. The frame iifi. is provided with radial shouldersfi .to which are clamped bytheplates 55 and screwsiiiithe'ends of the abrading materials 59, 5| and 52. The rollers are provided with a shaft 5? which, is press-fitted into the eccentrichub 46. The shaft, 51 has press-fitted thereon a gear58l The shaft 5.! is provided with portions 59 of reduced diameter which-fit into ball bearings 66 carried in the ends-of the sliding carriages-38 and 39.. Upper rollers l'have the shaft 5?: cut as at the point indicated by the broken line d--d ofFig.3, whereas the shafts of the lower rollers 455'are provided with a rectangular-projection M for a purpose to be hereinafter specified.

1 Mounted transversely on the bed-plate 2 byv means of screws 62 isa, bearing bracket 63 provided with a. pair of opposite integral housings (i i to contain bearings in which are journaled the main drive shaft 65 upon which arepress-fitted the helical gears 66 and $7, and also the grooved crank wheels 68 and 69 to whichare'attached re-. spectively the connecting rods'l'li and H which are attached to the sliding carriages 39 and 35 respectively. l a o..

The bearing bracket 53 is'also provided with a second pair of.-.opposite..integral housings 12V to contain bearings in which is journaled the shaft 13. upon which is press-fittedthe helicalgear 14 which mesheswith thehelical gear 66 on the main drive shaft 65.. 1 1 The shaft leis provided witharectangular hole within-which the rectangular shaft extension 6| of the. shaft 51, ofthe lower roller mounted in sliding carriage 39, isa free sliding fit; The bearing bracket 63 :is: also provided with a third: pair of oppositeintegralbearing housings 16 to contain bearings in which is ,journaled a shaft Ti similar toshaft, T3. ,.-ThiS shaft Vicar- (Fig. 2)

ries press-fitted thereon a helical gear 78 which with a worm wheel 82 fast mounted on one end of a shaft 83 journaled in a bracket 84 mounted on the forked bracket 6. The other end of the shaft 83 carries fast mounted thereon a worm 85 which meshes with a worm wheel 85 fast mounted .on one end of the shaft 87, which is journaled in a boss 88 on the forked bracket 6 Fast mounted on the other end of the shaftfi] is the spur gear 8i? which meshes with the gearsfl fast mounted on shaft 7. A suitable flexible belt 9| transmits power from the grooved crank'wheel 6 8, on the main drive shaft 55, to the pulley Bflonthe shaft 8|.

7 The operation of my device is as follows;

Wafer razor blades provided with the usual perforations are placed upon the feed belt i i, the lugs L; of which engage the perforations. The

blades are successively placed on the horizontal portion of the feed belt l4 above the pulley 13. This may be done by hand or by a suitable automatic mechanical means. Power from a suitable source is thenapplied to. the grooved crank wheel 65. thus rotating the main drive shaft 65 and the crank wheel 68 mounted thereon. The sliding carriages 36 and 39 are thus given a reciprocating motion through their crank connections with the crank wheels 68 and 69. This motion is along apath parallel to that of the. feed belt M as it passes through the associated guide plates 28 and 29 and 22 and 23. a

The lower abrading rollers 45 are caused to rotate by the engagement of their rectangular shaft extensions 6| in the rectangular holes 15 within the shafts i3 and T! whereon are mounted respectively thehelical gears 14 and 18, which mesh respectively with; helical gears 65 and 67 fast mounted on the main drive shaft 65. The upper abrading rollers 44 are driven through their attached gears '58 which mesh with the corresponding gears on the associated lower roller. It is to be noted from Fig. 7'that the upper roller 44 and its associated lower roller 45 are initially positioned in such a way that as they rotate each presents clearance space for the abrading surface of the other. The gear ratios between the main drive shaft and the lower roller driving means are such, preferably, that the cycle of reciprocation of the roller carriages 36 and 39 differs in frequency from the cycle of rotation of the abrading rollers;

' The feed belt I4 is caused to travel so as to bring the blades thereon mounted successively into operative position, first between the associated guide plates 23 and 29, and then between the associated guide plates 22 and 23, in the following manner:

' The belt 9| transmits the rotative influence of crank wheel 58 to the pulley 8G and its attached shaft 19 and the worm 8| which in turn rotates the worm wheel 82. Power is thence transmitted through theshaftSS to the worm 35which rotates the worm wheel 86 attached to shaft 87 which carries the gear 89 meshing with gear 9!] on the face of the pulley 8.

pulley, 8. Rotation; of the pulley 8 causes the feed belt I4 to travel by means of the engagement of the bosses l9 with the. pockets 20 in the The above-described reduction gears provide; a relatively slow rate of feed belt travel as compared with the speed of res oiprocation and rotation of the abrading rollers.

As the blades come successively into that part of their path of travel which lies opposite the first encountered pair of associated abrading rollers they are constrained to travel ina straight path notwithstanding the stresses of the abrading process by means of the associated guide plates 28 and 29 which so hold the blade as to present its left edge, to the abrading rollers, which alternately engage the top and bottom beveled surfaces of the left edge of the blade with sufficient force to flex the blade'thus held against rocking.

It willbe apparent that the blade will be held against vertical displacement by the contact of the combined belt and blade with the upper and lower faces of the associated guide plates, and,

will also be held against lateral displacement by the contactof the sides of the bosses IS with the side walls of the channels in the guide plates through which these bosses pass.

ress of the blades through the machine will bring them successively under the influence of the second pair of associated abrading rollers in which position they are guidedand supported by the associated guide plates 22 and 23 which present the right edges of the blades, to the abrading rollers in the same manner as above described.- As the blades emerge from between the associated guide plates 22 and 23, they may be removed from the feed belt I4 by hand orby any suitable automaticmeans.

From the above description of my device, it will be apparent that it possesses the advantage of great simplicity and uninterrupted continuity of action without steps in the handling of individual blades which consume time or require the attention of a machine tender. The flow of blades through the machine is continuous and effective for performing each and every function in the edging process.

Although I have described my device as come prising one unit of oppositely placed stropping rollers for operating upon the right and left r edges of the blades in one passage through the ers.

machine, it is apparent that a longer feed belt may be'provided and successive units for grinding andhoning, as well as stropping, may be located along the path of feed by increasing the number 7 of the sliding carriages with their associated roll-j for the blades which is along the abrading'members, it becomes possible to employ abrading members, the surfaces of which are progressively finer thereby effecting a gradual abrasion of the beveled blade surfaces such as to avoid the probability of deep scratching which may overrun and affect the ultimate edge of the blade.

An edge so progressively formed is little likely to develop a feather. This is especially true when full advantage is taken of the-unique abrading featuresmade available by properly relating the Further prog device, in my co-pending patent application, Se-.

rial No. 342,387,v filed February 25, 1929. I

The abrading rollers are freely-removable .for

the purpose of renewing the abrading material thereon by disengaging theconnecting rod which operates the sliding carriage wherein the rollers are mounted, and sliding the roller carriage off its guideways. Access may then be had through the open side. of the-carriage to the screws 48.

ing material.

In the above mentioned co-pending patent application there is disclosed new and basic principles for stropping razor blades and therein is illustrated a-portable stropping device embodying these principles. The present device, embodying additional novel features, which make it exceptionally convenient and economical inoperawhich-retain the frame 49 supporting the abradtion, represents the preferred form of a com mercial blade manufacturing machine employing these basic principles. The combined reciprocating and .rotative movements of the abrading members, incorporated in my device, provide the means essential to the accomplishmentof those functions best adapted to produce superior outtingedgesof maximum uniformity. The essential feature of the present invention is the adaptation'of acontinuous non-periodic blade feeding mechanism to a device arranged to grind and polish the beveled surfaces on blades in the manner described. Another important feature is that the device is constructed in such a way that all edging operations, including grinding, honingcombination of means whereon a blade may be mounted, slidably mounted carriages supporting rotatable abrading means, means for so supporting and advancing said means whereon the blade may be mountedthat the blade may be presented to said rotatable abrading means along a path of travel substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said abrading means, and means for reciprocating said slidably mounted carriages along said axis simultaneously with the rotation of said abrading means.

2. In a device of the character specified the combination of a belt whereon a blade may be mounted, bosses on said belt adapted to engage holes in said blade, meansfor actuating said belt, a pair of associated guide members arranged to partly embrace said belt and the blade mounted thereon in a manner whereby one edge of the blade projecting beyond said guide members throughout their entire length may be maintained in exact alignment. and, a rotatable.

ab'rading member slidably mounted beside said belt and arranged to rotate about, and reciprocate along, an axis substantially parallel thereto andadapted to engage the projecting edge of the blade carried thereby. v

3.'In a device of the character specified the combination of a, belt whereon a blade may be mounted, bosses on said belt adapted to engage holes in said blade, means for actuating said belt, a pair of associated guide members arranged to partly embrace said belt and the blade mounted thereon in a manner whereby one edge of the blade projecting beyond said guide members throughout their entire length may be maintained in exact alignment, and a pair of asso ciated rotatable abrading members 'slidably mounted beside said belt and arranged to rotate each upon an axis substantially parallel to said belt and to-reciprocate each along its axis of rotation, and adapted to engage alternately in rapid succession the upper and lower beveled faces of the projecting edge of the blade carried by said belt. l l I 4. In a device 'of the character specified the combination of a belt whereon a blade may be mounted, bosses on said belt adapted to engage holes in said blade, means for actuating said belt, a'first pair of associated guide plates arranged to partlyembrace said belt and the blade mounted thereon in a manner whereby one edge of the blade projecting beyond. said guide plates be maintained in exact alignmenh'a second pair of associated guide platesarranged to partly embrace said belt and the blade mounted thereon at a stage of its travel beyond said first pairfof guide plates in a manner whereby the other'edge of the blade projecting beyond said second pair of guide plates may be maintained in exact align ment, a rotatable abradingmember mounted beside said belt on one side thereof and arranged to engage the beveled surface of that edge of the blade which projects beyond said firstmentioned pair of guide plates, a second rotatable abrading member slidably mounted beside said belt on the side thereof opposite to that on which said first-mentioned abrading member is mounted and arranged to engage the beveled surface of that edge of the blade which projects beyond said second pair of guide plates, and means for rotating and simultaneously reciprocating said abrading members along paths parallel to said belt..

5. In a device of the character specified the combination of a belt whereon a blade may be mounted, bosses on said belt adapted to engage holes in said blade, means for actuating said belt, a first pair of associated guide plates arranged to partly embrace said belt and the blade mounted thereon in a manner whereby one edge of the blade projecting beyond said guide plates may be maintained in exact alignment, a second pair of associated guide plates arranged to partly embrace said belt and the blade mounted thereon ata stage of its travel beyond said first pair of guide plates in a manner whereby the other edge of the blade projecting beyond said second pair of 7 guide plates may be maintained in exact alignment, a rotatable abrading member slidably mounted beside said belt on one side thereof and arranged to engage the beveled surface of that edge of the blade which projects beyond said firs mentioned pair of guide plates, a second rotatable'abrading member slidably mounted beside said belt on the side thereof, opposite to that on which said first-mentioned abrading member is slidably mounted and arranged to engage the beveled surface of that edge of the blade which projects beyond said second pair of guide plates, and means whereby said slidably mounted rotatable abrading members may be reciprocated each along a path of travel substantially parallel to said belt.

6. In a device of the character specified the combination of a frame, a pair of oppositely placed pulleys mounted on said frame, a flexible feed belt mounted on said pulleys, bosses on said belt whereon blades may be mounted, means for actuating one of said pulleys, two pairs of associated guide plates, each pair arranged to embrace said belt and blades carried thereon in such a manner as to maintain exact alignment of said blades as said belt feeds said blades between said guide plates, one pair of said guide plates being mounted on one side of said frame and arranged to expose one edge of a blade passing under its influence and the other pair of said guide plates being mounted on the other side of said frame and arranged to expose the other edge of a blade passing under its influence, a pair of slidable carriages each of which is mounted on said frame opposite a pair of associated guide plates, rotatable abrading means mounted within sad carriages, means for reciprocating said carriages, and means for rotating said abrading means. I

7. In a device of the character specified the combination of a frame, a pair of oppositely placed pulleys mounted on said frame, a flexible feed beltmounted' on said pulleys, bosses on said belt whereon blades may be mounted, means for actuating one of said pulleys, twopairs of associated guide plates, each pair arranged to embrace said belt and blades carried thereon as said belt passes between said guide plates, one pair of said guide plates being mounted on one side of said frame and arranged to expose one edge of a blade passing under its influence and the other pair of said guide plates being mounted on the other side of said frame and arranged to expose the other edge of a blade passing under its influence, a pair of slidable carriages each of which is mounted on said frame opposite a pair of associated guide plates, rotatable abrading means mounted within said carriages, means for reciprocating said carriages and means for rotating said abrading means, said reciprocating means and said rotating means comprising a main drive shaft rotatably mounted in said frame at right angles to said feed belt and between said s'lidable carriages, a pair of crank wheels fast mounted onsaid main drive shaft, a pair of connecting rods each of which connects one of said sliding carriages to a crank wheel, a pair of opposite hand helical gears fast mounted on said main drive shaft, a pair of auxiliary drive shafts each rotatably mounted at right angles to said main drive shaft, a pair of helical gears each mounted on one-of said auxiliary drive shafts and arranged to mesh with one 'of said helical gears on said main drive shaft, a lower abrading roller rotatably mounted in each slidable carriage, a shaft extension pro'ecting from said lower roller and slidable within one of said auxiliary shafts and adapted to be rotated thereby, a gear fast mounted on said lower roller, an upper roller rotatably mounted in each slidable carriage, a gear fast mounted on said upper roller and arranged to mesh with said gear fast mounted on said lower roller. 7

8. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a feed belt provided with means for supporting double-edge blades mounted thereon, means for constraining said belt and double-edge blades mounted thereon to travel in a fixed path notwithstanding abrading stresses thereon, two pairs of associated slidably mounted rotatable abrading members located each on an opposite side of said feed belt and adapted to operate alternately in rapid succession on theupper and lower beveled surfaces of opposite edges of double-edge blades mounted on said feed belt, and means for simultaneously actuating said pairs of abrading members, both as to reciprocation and rotation, v

9. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a feed belt provided with means for supporting blades mounted thereon, means for constraining said belt and blades mounted thereon toftravel in a fixed path notwithstanding abrading stresses thereon, a pair of associated slidably mountedrotatable abrading members located beside the path of travel of said feed belt and adapted to operate alternately in rapid succession in the manner specified, upon the beveled surfaces adjacent an edge of a blade mounted thereon, said abrading members being provided with a semi-cylindrical abrading surface the fineness of which increases in the direction of travel of said feed belt, and means for simultaneously actuating said abrading members, both as to reciprocation and rotation.

10. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a continuous non-periodic blade feeding mechanism adapted and arranged to expose simultaneously to alternate abrading action both beveled surfaces adjacent one edge of blades being fed thereby, and an abrading mechanism providing combined reciprocating and rotary movement of abrading members having substantionally semi-cylindrical abrading surfaces, said abrading mechanism being adapted'and arranged to grind and polish the beveled surfaces of blades continuously .and progressively fed through said abrading mechanism by said blade feeding mechanism.

11. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a continuous non-periodic blade feeding means, means adapted and arranged to continuously maintain exact alignment of blades being fed by said blade feeding means notwithstanding alternate abrading of each beveled surface adjacent one edge of said blades, and an abrading mechanism providing combined reciprocating and rotary movement of substantially semi-cylindrical abrading members, said abrading mechanismbeing adapted and arranged to grind and polish the beveled surfaces of said blades as they are progressively and continuously fed through said abrading mechanism.

12. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a continuous blade feeding mechanism, and an abrading mechanism including a plurality of substantially semi-cylindrical abrading members provided with combined reciprocating and rotary movement, said abrading members being adapted to grind and polish the beveled surfaces of blades continuously and progressively fed past said abrading members, and means for rotating and simultaneously reciprocating said abrading members along axes parallel to the path of travel of said blades.

13. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a continuous blade feeding mechanism, and an abrading mechanism including a plurality of substantially semi-cylindrical abrading members provided with combined reciprocating and rotary movement, said abrading mem bers being adapted to grind and polish the beveled surfaces of blades continuously and progressively fed past said abrading members, and means for rotating, at one frequency, and simultaneously reciprocating, at a different frequency,said abrading members along axes parallel to the path of travel of said blades.

14. In a device of the character specified, the combination of a continuous non-periodic blade feeding mechanism, an abrading mechanism including a plurality of eccentrically mounted substantially semi-cylindrical abrading members provided with combined reciprocating and rotary movement, said abrading members being adapted to contact, intermittently and under periodically varying pressure, with the beveled surfaces of blades as they are progressively fed past said abrading members, and means for rotating, at one frequency, and simultaneously reciprocating,

at a different frequency, said abrading'members.

along axes parallel to the path of travel of said blades. 7

15. In a continuous blade feeding mechanism, the combination of a thin fiexible belt having integral bosses projecting therefrom, said bosses being formed and spaced to so fit into perforations in a blade to be fed by said blade feeding mechanism, that said blade is, for all practical purposes, doweled to said belt, and a pair of associated guide plates arranged and adapted to embrace said belt and said integral bosses, together with said blade, in suchamannerthattheedge of said blade projecting beyond said guide plates throughout their entire length may remain sub-- stantially parallel to said guide plates notwith-.

standing alternate abrading of each beveled surface adjacent said edge, and the portion of said blade within said guide plates may be held against lateral and vertical displacements and may have no freedom of motion with respect to said guide plates except in one direction, namely along the path of travel of said belt. a

16. In a device of the character specified, th

combination of a continuous non-periodic blade feedingmechanism arranged to handle double edge wafer blades, said mechanism including means for so guiding and supporting said blades that both edges of said blades may be finished in' 

